FREDERICKSBURG, Va. - The Virginia Department of Transportation and the Virginia State Police are preparing for another round of winter weather, as Virginia is forecast to experience a winter storm Thursday night into Friday morning.
According to the VSP, during Monday's inclement weather, troopers responded to 1,220 traffic crashes and 1,414 disabled or stuck vehicles across the state. There were no weather-related traffic deaths reported during that time period, including during the I-95 incident near Fredericksburg that shut down traffic for more than 20 hours.
"Back-to-back storms are nothing new for the state police or Virginia," said Major R.C. Maxey, Jr., Virginia State Police Bureau of Field Operations Deputy Director, during a press conference held Thursday morning. "State Police is prepared for this latest round of winter weather. We will have all available troopers on patrol in order to respond as quickly as possible to traffic crashes, emergencies, and disabled motorists. We will extend shifts, call out additional troopers, and redirect resources when and where needed, just as we did earlier this week."
VDOT crews in the Fredericksburg area are working to treat roads on low-volume and subdivisions streets as the area prepares for a winter storm to bring additional snow tonight.
According to VDOT, I-95 is currently open and clear, while primary and higher-volume secondary roads are in clear to minor condition. Crews will pre-treat I-95 with salt brine starting at 9 a.m. Thursday, then will move to primary routes in the Fredericksburg area.
Crews are still removing downed trees and debris in order to reopen blocked secondary roads and help utility crews restore power.
VDOT crews are plowing snow and treating roads 24 hours a day, working in 12-hour shifts, as roads are made passable from the past winter storm. This work will continue through and beyond Thursday night's storm until all roads have been plowed, and are safe for travel.
With below-freezing temperatures expected overnight, be careful of ice, especially on lightly-trafficked routes, ramps, bridges and overpasses. Sand and salt are being applied along I-95 and other cleared routes to improve motorist traction and reduce icing, but motorists are encouraged to delay unnecessary travel.
If you must travel:
- Plan to allow extra travel time
- Significantly reduce your speed
- Wear your seat belt
- Increase following distance between vehicles to add reaction time
- Clean snow and ice from your vehicle before starting a trip. This will improve your visibility of the road ahead, and it will prevent snow and ice from becoming a flying debris hazard for other travelers.
